Tile



April 28, 1931.

H. L. WHEELER 1,803,158

TILE

Filed Aug. 21, 1929 ATTORNEY '35 In these views,

Patented Apr. 28, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HOWARD I 4. WHEELER, '0]? FORT MYERS, FLORIDA TILE Application filed August 21, 1929. Serial No. 387,398.

This invention relates to a tile, the general object of the invention being to provide the tile with a handle for facilitating handling of the tile and enabling a mason to lay a greater number of tiles than he could if the handle was not provided, and to so form the handle that the tile can be picked up by simply hooking the fingers under the handle,- thus enablin the mason to handle the tile with but 10 little e ort, as it is not necessary for him to exert pressure on the tile in picking up the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a space into which the handle extends,

said space acting to break the mortar joint and thereby prevent moisture from passing through the mortar from the exterior of the wall to the interior thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide the outer surface of the handle with a beveled part so that said surface is below the face of the tile so that the handle is not likely to be broken in piling thetiles one upon another.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifical- 1y pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail,.reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective View of the improved tile.

A indicates the tile which may be of any desired shape and size, and the numeral 1 indicates a channel. or opening formed in the top face ofthe tile at the center thereof and extending from one end to the 40 other. A handle forming part 2 extends into the said opening and is of the full length of the tile and has its upper face beveled as shown at 3, and the outer end of this handle part is thickened and provided with a lower eveled face, as shown at 4. By extending the handle the-full length of the tile, the handle can be engaged by the hand of the mason or other person at any desired point throughout the length of the tile and by providing the part 4, the fingers can be'readily hooked under the handle part in the handling of the tile and without causing the mason to exert pressure on any part of the tile in lifting the same. Thus the tile can be easily handled without any undue strain on the part of the mason and the mason can lay a greater num-' ber of the improved tiles than he could if the handle was not provided. By having the outer face of the handle part beveled, this face is placed below the level of the top face of the tile so that it is protected to a great extent and is not likely to be broken when the tiles are placed one upon another in shipment and storage. The channel or space 1 not only forms a space through which the fingers are passed in engaging the handle, but it also forms a spacing at the center of the mortar joint so that moisture cannot pass through said joint and thus reach the inner surface of the wall composed ofthe tiles.

-While the drawing shows the handle and channel at the top of the tile, it will, of course, be understood that this channel and handle can also be formed at the bottom of the tile, if desired.

The invention can be used on tiles having any number of cells therein and the handle part can be formed in any manner so that its outer face is below the plane of the mortar face of the tile and the handle can be engaged by simply hooking the fingers thereunder. The opening 1 not only provides a space for. receiving the handle part and for breaking the mortar joint, but it also lightens the tile without decreasing its load bearing capacity, and the handle formed as the tile is passed through the mold. Furthermore this opening also reduces the amount of mortar used in the wall.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A tile of the class described having a longitudinally extending opening in one of its mortar receiving faces and a handle forming part extending into said ogemng'from a side wall of the opening where the tile can be picked up by hooking the fihgers under said handle forming part, said emng and handle extending from one end 0 the tile to the other end thereof and the opening forming a break in the mortar joint whereb moisture is prevented from passing throug the -joint to the interior face of the wall formed by the tiles.

2. A tile of the class described having a longitudinally extending opening in one of its mortar receiving faces and a handle forming part extending into said opening from a side wall of the opening whereby the tile can be picked up by hooking the fingers un der said handle forming part, said opening and handle extending from one end of the tile to the other end thereof and the opening forming a break in the mortar joint whereb moisture is prevented from passing througl i the joint to the interior face of the wall formed by the tiles, saidhandle forming part having a beveled outer face whereby the outer face of the handle forming part is spaced inwardly from the plane of the rest of the face of thetile. 4 i

3. A tile of the class described having-a 80 channel in one of its mortar receiv' faces, said channel extending from one an of the tile to the other end, a handle forming part extending from one of the side walls of the channel part into the channel, said'handle part also extending from one end of the tile to the other and having its outer face spaced inwardly from the plane of the face of the tile with its free edge so shaped that the tile can be picked up by booking the fingers un- 4 der said handle part. 4. A tile having horizontally and vertically extending walls and a void between the walls, one of the walls terminating in an overhanging ledge shaped to form a handle under which ones fingers may extend 'in lifting the tile, said handle extending from end to end of the tile.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HOWARD L; WHEELER. a i 

